After giving a new member the advice to check out a cheap Sestertius of Trajan or Hadrian, I realized how much I regret having sold my own first Orichalcum coin, a budget Hadrian, last year. So I decided to quit saving for that ugly Aemilian bronze and instead go "back to the roots" and get another Hadrian just for the fun of it and to have something to play with while the rest is locked away in the bank safe. And what can I say - holding this yellow and hefty Sestertius in my hands makes me remember what made me fall in love with Roman coins all over again! As an added bonus it features Justitia which fits me because I am a lawyer . HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P - Laureate head of Hadrianus right with drapery on neck IVSTITIA AVG S C- Iustitia seated left, holding sceptre, showing patera Sestertius, Rome 134-138 31,8 mm / 25,55 gr RIC 764; BMCRE 1523; Cohen - ; Sear - ; Banti 465 (4 specimens) Is there more history and eye appeal to be had for 20 (!) Euros? Post anything "cheap" that makes you feel happy!!!
That's my kind of sestertius - nice one, JG! Just got a Hadrian sestertius - definitely low-grade, but I'm not afraid to play with it (and the price was right): Hadrian Æ Sestertius (134-138 A.D.) Rome Mint [HAD]RIANVS AVG [COS III P P], laureate bust right / [AEQVITAS A]VG S [C], Aequitas, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and vertical rod (pertica) in left RIC 743d (25.21 grams / 30 mm)
Low grade and worn, got lots of them... Hadrian, Sestertius, Rome, ca. 134 - 138 AD 31 x 31.5 mm, 23.82 g RIC II 770d; Strack (Hadrian) 679; Cohen 1017; Ob.: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P Bust of Hadrian, laureate right Rev.: PAX AVG S C Pax seated left on high-backed throne, holding olive branch in right and transverse scepter in left Pax as the reverse type may well be a reference to the emperor's hope for an end to the Bar Kochba War in Judaea ca. 132 - 136 AD –a traumatic event that tarnished the last years of Hadrian's life.
Ae from Teanum Sidicinum. Has special meaning and makes me feel good because my grandfather was born in that town many years ago. I like to imagine one of my ancestors once spent it.
